This post by New Republic was one of many articles published in 2016 highlighting the prominence of hearing loss among veterans. Hearing loss now represents the leading disability for veterans (leading even PTSD).

In fact, the Department of Veteran Affairs states that 60 percent of those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan (around 600,000) have irreversible hearing loss or tinnitus.

Now that awareness has been raised, the military is working on creating helmets that minimize loud blasts while amplifying ambient sound.

We’re grateful to see several stories each year about people overcoming hearing loss to accomplish incredible things. However every now and then one comes along that reminds us of what is possible with the right mindset and determination.

Caroline Aufgebauer, a high school senior, worked around her hearing loss to learn not one, not two, but three different languages. She speaks English, Spanish, and Latin (earning special recognition for her performance on the national Spanish exam) and has a basic knowledge of German.

That, by the way, makes her trilingual in spite of a condition that makes speech comprehension very difficult.

In response to the growing problem of developing hearing loss and tinnitus at concerts, Pearl Jam provided earplugs to fans at its concerts in an action that we hope catches on with other bands.

A number of musicians currently are suffering from hearing loss and tinnitus as a consequence of a lack of hearing protection at shows, including Pete Townshend, Eric Clapton, Ozzy Osbourne, Grimes, and Chris Martin.

This inspiring story is about how photographer Kate Disher-Quill finally came to accept her hearing loss and embrace and love her hearing aids.

Kate’s project, Right Hear, Right Now, is designed to empower people to accept and embrace their differences. It’s something she wishes she had access to when she was younger, something that could have inspired her to accept her own hearing loss sooner than she did.

12. When silencing phantom noises is a matter of science

The search for the cure for tinnitus continued in 2016, with multiple promising breakthroughs.

Tinnitus is tough to diagnose and treat, and the best treatments available today either mask the sound or instruct the patient on how to deal with the sound.

However now scientists at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have uncovered the first gene that may be able to prevent tinnitus.

As we learn more and more how the brain processes and interprets sound and speech, we can begin developing more effective hearing aids and better training programs to help those with hearing loss to boost speech recognition.

Stay tuned in 2017 for additional developments in the fundamental area of speech comprehension.

Hidden hearing loss can be present even in young adults who can pass a basic hearing test.

Research is ongoing that can enhance the accuracy of hearing testing and expose hearing damage in young people, with ramifications including more effective hearing protection, better workplace noise guidelines, and targeted medical treatments.

And last, here are eight good reasons to get a hearing test, published by Better Hearing Institute. There’s no better way to begin the new year than by taking control of your hearing health and enjoying all of the advantages of better hearing.